Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday criticised the Congress Working Committee’s decision to limit the singing of Vande Mataram to two stanzas, saying the national song was not a “political bargaining chip” but the “soul of Bharat’s freedom struggle”.
In a post on social media, Majhi said the Congress’ decision was “deeply disappointing” and asserted that Vande Mataram belonged to the history and spirit of the country.
He said the song was not the political property of the Congress to “edit, dilute or bargain with”, and maintained that a song which inspired generations of freedom fighters should not be subjected to vote-bank considerations or political convenience.
“Vande Mataram is not a political bargaining chip. It is the soul of Bharat’s freedom struggle,” Majhi said.
The chief minister further said the nation had remembered the historical significance of the song and would not allow what he described as a repetition of the Congress’ “same politics”.
“Vande Mataram will always remain the voice of Bharat,” he said.
The remarks came amid a political row over the manner in which the national song should be sung, with the Congress Working Committee’s decision to restrict it to two stanzas drawing criticism from the BJP.
